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PODCAST

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

education

All Episodes

00:17:00

What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/05/06

1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere.The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor.The "mama" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a

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00:20:26

The secret to writing ‘the same but different,’ with...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/05/01

1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!).Find Mary at maryrobinettekowal.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising

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00:19:04

'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/29

1077. Is it “lit” or “lighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it.The "dollar sign" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s the founder and principal editor at TypoSuction.com, an independent editing/writing service. He taught grammar and copyediting intensives

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00:22:44

Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/24

1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work.Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the

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00:18:01

'I.e' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/22

1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew.The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper, a chair professor in English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University, and Mathew Gillings, an assistant professor at the Vienna University of

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00:26:02

AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/17

1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled.Find Erin McKean at wordnik.com, dressaday.com, and wordnik@worknik.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus

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00:15:52

Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money'...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/15

1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like “mad money” and “pin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time.The "paragraph" segment originally appeared on the OUP Blog, and was written by Edwin Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University. He is the author of Sorry About That: The Language of

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00:17:01

The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/10

1072. Is AI coming for our jobs—or just the boring parts? This week, Samantha Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial talks about how she sees AI changing the work of writers and editors. We talked about real clients, real fears, and hope for the future. Plus, Samantha shares her favorite old-school fiction (spoiler: Agatha Christie strikes again!).Find Samantha Enslen at DragonflyEditorial.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to

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00:16:57

How to write photo captions. The real difference...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/08

1071. Is it "Taylor and I" or "Taylor and me"? We explain why photo captions follow their own grammar rules. Then, we explore the subtle difference between "immigrate" and "emigrate," how the terms are used historically, and why their meanings often depend on perspective.The "photo captions" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing

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00:25:35

The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/03

1070. Fiction editor Joshua Essoe explains the hidden techniques behind pacing in storytelling. Learn how good pacing shapes reader engagement, why well-placed story beats and emotional shifts matter, and how popular films like Memento and Fight Club use pacing to captivate audiences. Joshua also looks at managing flashbacks, using white space strategically, and avoiding common pacing pitfalls in fiction writing.Joshua's "Pacing and Cutting" Kickstarter:

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00:15:17

Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.'...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/04/01

1069. Have you ever wondered why we have silent L's in words like "walk" and "half"? Those questions lead us to L-vocalization, spelling pronunciation, and why American and British speakers differ. Plus, we look at some of the most dangerous words in the English language: "always" and "never."The "L vocalization" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the

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00:31:13

Exploring slang, AI ghost words, and language change,...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/27

1068. Did Yosemite Sam ever actually say "tarnation"? What’s "fridgescaping," and why is it trending? And why is AI filling the internet with nonsense words like “lrtsjerk”? Linguist and translator Heddwen Newton shares her favorite new slang, explains the Mandela Effect, and breaks down how AI-generated content is making language even messier.Find Heddwen Newton at her newsletter, English in Progress.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing

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00:17:25

What’s wrong with ‘"'til"? Why tiny words control...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/25

1067. Think "'til" is a valid alternative to "until"? Think again! We learn about the difference between "till" and "until" and why many style guides frown on "'til." Then, we uncover the hidden power of interjections—words like "um," "huh," and "mm-hmm"—and how they help us negotiate meaning, keep conversations flowing, and even challenge artificial intelligence.The "interjections" segment was written by Bob Holmes, a science writer living in Edmonton, Canada and who until recently, had no idea how

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00:25:04

The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/20

1066. Do you really need that comma? Should your dashes have spaces? Is there ever just one "right" way to punctuate? June Casagrande, author of "The Best Punctuation Book, Period," busts punctuation myths, compares style guides, and looks at the surprising complexity of the humble em dash.Find June Casagrande at grammarunderground.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising

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00:17:29

Why we say ‘OK.’ How tea shaped English slang. Poetry...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/18

1065. Is it "OK" or "okay"? We look at the surprising history of one of the world’s most recognized English words and how a 19th-century election campaign helped it stick. Then, we have some fun with Victorian tea culture and the many idioms it inspired, from Cockney rhyming slang to "scandal broth."The "tea" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first

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00:27:38

Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy,...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/13

1064. Is Wikipedia the last refuge on online truth? With AI-generated content and misinformation spreading online, Wikipedia is growing in esteem, but who decides what gets published? How does Wikipedia determine things like credibility and notability? Wikipedia consultant Jonathan Rick gives us the inside scoop on Wikipedia’s strict sourcing rules, why some pages get deleted, and how you can become an editor.Jonathan Rick helps people make sense of — and profit from — business communication

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00:15:42

How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/11

1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when there’s no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, we look at the role of accent marks in English — why some words keep them, why others lose them, and what they tell us about language.The "corn" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at

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00:27:39

Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it),...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/06

1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the literacy crisis in America, how reading is taught incorrectly in schools, and what we can do to fix it. She has real stories of students and adults overcoming reading struggles, the science behind learning to read, and practical advice for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to help.Resource list Literacy rates:PIAAC, NAEPWhy do we have these low

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00:16:48

The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/03/04

1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, we look at some of the most dramatic moments in grammar history, including a semicolon duel, a costly comma mistake, and a famous book with 5,000 typos.The "dummy 'it'" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the

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00:31:28

From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia Pérez': How movies shape...

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. ·

2025/02/27

1060. Why do villains always have British accents? Why was "Parasite" a game-changer for non-English films? And how is AI secretly shaping the voices you hear on screen? With the Oscars coming up, Dr. Andrew Cheng talks about how films are evolving to reflect linguistic authenticity — and why it matters. From heritage speakers in "Anora" to made-up languages in "Dune" and "Avatar," we look at the complexities of representing real and fictional languages in film.Dr. Andrew Cheng teaches Linguistics

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